Dear Parents,
Late yesterday I was invited to write a short piece for the Hills Shire Local newspaper which I thought I would share with the community today. They requested a response around how has lockdown impacted on our learning and what advice we had provided to our students and parents. The second request revolved around a message as a Principal I would like to send to my community.
After six weeks into lockdown and online learning at Christ the King our students are into a routine for their school day at home. Our students have been encouraged to establish a learning space where they can work and take part in their zoom sessions with their teachers. Establishing a daily work routine and following a timetable each day has contributed to a positive and worthwhile online learning experience. Our students have got themselves into the habit of beginning the day with a zoom meeting, responding to feedback and corresponding with their teachers through google classroom. Learning through online workshops and participating in weekly wellbeing theme days has made remote learning easier and enjoyable at the end of each week.
My message to my students, staff and families is one of thanks and congratulations for how our school community collectively have contributed to successfully adapting to working from home online. To all members of CTK, you should be commended for your commitment, patience and enthusiasm for taking “head on” the online working platform for the second time in eighteen months. I encourage you all to make the best of a difficult but manageable situation we are all encountering. Believe in yourselves and your own ability, follow the directions of your teachers and parents and do the very best you can . When this is all over we will be better people for the experience!
Thanks To everyone this morning who joined our online liturgy to celebrate the feast of The Assumption. It was great to see so many families come together as a Catholic community in prayer to pray together during these challenging times. Thanks to our Year 1 and Year 2 students and teachers for their contributions to the liturgy and a special thanks to Mrs Wynne for co-ordinating it.
At the beginning of the week each family was issued with a feedback survey for each grade their children are in. We are keen to receive any feedback on the online learning processes that are currently in place. It would be greatly appreciated if you could complete the survey by close of business today. Thank you.
With the NSW Government announcing strengthened ‘stay-at-home’ orders, and with the safety of our community as our top priority, I again ask you to please do everything possible to keep your children at home as there is an added risk for your children when they attend school and come into contact with others outside their immediate family. Supervision will continue to be provided at school only for the families who need this support - essential workers, vulnerable students, or those who are not at home and have no other supervision options. There continues to be minimal staff onsite.
Stay Healthy and Safe
Tony Hughes
Principal
